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8 Wednesday, February 15, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Agility Robotics evolves from OSU research By David Stauth Correspondent CORVALLIS — The rapidly expanding robot- ics program in the College of Engineering at Oregon State University has spun off one of its first businesses, a company focused on legged locomotion that may revo- lutionize robot mobility and enable robots to go anywhere people can go. The firm, Agility Robotics, is based in Albany, Oregon, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; already has several of its first custom- ers; will license some tech- nologies first developed at OSU, and plans to build on this scientific foundation in their product research and development. A leading application for this type of mobility is package delivery, company officials say. In the long term, advanced mobility will enable shipping so automated and inexpensive that its cost becomes inconsequential, opening vast new possibili- ties in retail trade while low- ering costs for manufactur- ing and production. “This technology will simply explode at some point, when we create vehi- cles so automated and robots so efficient that deliveries and shipments are almost free,” said Jonathan Hurst, an associate professor of robotics in the OSU College of Engineering, chief tech- nology officer at Agility Robotics and an international leader in the development of legged locomotion. “Quite simply, robots with legs can go a lot of places that wheels cannot. This will be the key to deliveries that can be made 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by a fleet of autonomous vans that pull up to your curb, and an onboard robot that delivers to your doorstep. “This robot capability will free people from week- end shopping chores, reduce energy use, and give con- sumers more time to do the things they want to do. It effectively brings efficient automated logistics from state-of-the-art warehouses out and into the rest of the world.” This long-term vision will take many steps, company officials said. Some of Agility Robotics’ first sales will be to other academic and research insti- tutions, to grow the research community and educate a new generation of engi- neers in this area, company Do You Have Storm Damage Because Your Yard Didn’t Drain Properly? We Respond when you call us. 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It’s half the weight and much more capable than earlier robots developed at OSU. “Our previous robot, ATRIAS, had motors that would work against either other, which was ineffi- cient,” Hurst said. “With Cassie, we’ve fixed this problem and added steer- ing, feet, and a sealed sys- tem, so it will work outdoors in the rain and snow as we continue with our controller testing.” The particular issue of motors working against one another prompted some extensive theoretical research, to create the math- ematical frameworks needed to solve the problem. The resulting leg configuration of Cassie looks much like FINEFURNITURE an ostrich or other ground- running bird. “We weren’t trying to duplicate the appearance of an animal, just the tech- niques it uses to be agile, efficient and robust in its movement,” Hurst said. “We didn’t care what it looked like and were mostly just working to find out why Mother Nature did things a certain way. But even though we weren’t trying to mimic the form, what came out on the other end of our research looked remarkably like an animal leg.” Cassie, built with a 16-month, $1 million grant from the Advanced Research Projects Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense, is already one of the leading innovations in the world of legged robotics. Company officials say they plan to do all initial production in Oregon and will focus their business on the commercial applications of legged robots. Hiring is anticipated for research, pro- duction and development. “The robotics revolution will bring with it enormous changes, perhaps sooner than many people realize,” Hurst said. “We hope for Agility Robotics to be a big part of that revolution. We want to change people’s lives and make them better.” Company officials said that access to the research base and education of stu- dents at OSU will aid its growth, providing the needed expertise and trained work force. OSU has already been ranked by Grad School Hub as the best in the west- ern United States and fourth leading program in the nation in robotics research and education. Last month, OSU offi- cials also announced that the university will be a found- ing academic partner in the newest Manufacturing USA Institute, the Advance Robotics Manufacturing Innovation Hub. This broad program with 14 institutes is a $3 billion federal and private company initiative designed to enhance U.S. competitiveness in advanced manufacturing. Massage | Skin Care | Nails | Waxing | Ayurvedic WINTER WELLNESS Wednesdays through May CO TAB FFE LES E Adam Bronstein Cra sman By Commission 541-410-1309 SpringCreekWoodworking.com SPA Special pricing for our local clients! 60-minute Classic Swedish Massage and 60-minute Deep-Cleansing European Facial. Only $85 each! A $110 value. AT F I V E P I N E ShibuiSpa.com | 720 Buckaroo Trail, Sisters | 541-549-6164